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My Kitten Doesn’t Drink Milk – What Should I Do?
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Almost everyone who has never owned a cat before, or who hasn’t owned a “fussy” cat, is under the impression that all cats drink milk. This is like saying that “all women like chocolate” – of course most women like chocolate but there’s a large enough percentage who don’t like it to disprove the common thought. Likewise with cats, it’s more accurate to say that most cats drink milk, but not all of them. There are some cats who don’t like milk – and there are even some who are lactose intolerant!
If you find that your kitty doesn’t like milk, or your veterinary has advised you that the fur problems are caused by an allergy that he has traced to being a lactose allergy, then you need to ensure that the kitten drinks plenty of water. If the kitten is really young, then you should ask your veterinary to suggest some alternatives to make sure that the kitten gets the right amount of calcium to ensure his bones and teeth grow healthily.
An older cat doesn’t need quite so much attention paid to its calcium intake, but if you know he isn’t drinking milk, then choose one of the cat food brands that adds calcium amongst the added vitamins and minerals it lists on the packaging. If you wanted to make sure that your cat is getting an “appropriate” amount of calcium for its age and size, you could again check this with your veterinary when you take the cat for its annual check-up/shots. If your cat is pregnant, nursing a litter, or moving into the “elderly feline” category, you should again check with your veterinary as to whether you need to have a calcium supplement for your pet.
Although all cats do need calcium, just as we do, and in different amounts through the various life stages, it’s more than possible for your cat to be completely healthy without drinking milk. A couple of minutes spent checking with your veterinary will soon reassure you that everything is fine and how to ensure your kitten’s nutritional intake is adequate.
Date Added: Monday, 04-07-2025 08:26:44 AM
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The Scoop on Kitty Vaccinations
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If you’ve bought a pedigree kitten, it should already have had its shots. If you’re thinking about buying a pedigree kitten, make sure you get paperwork proving that the vaccinations have been given and they’re all up-to-date. If you’re buying a non-pedigree cat, a moggy, then you will need to consider the issues surrounding each vaccination yourself.
All kittens ought to be vaccinated before they are allowed outdoors. This is to build their immune system up. The vaccination program for kitties starts between 6-8 weeks, so it’s possible that if you take kitty home at 8 weeks, he’s already had his first shot. The shots are given 2-3 weeks apart, and there are usually 3 shots in total. As a rabies shot is not always included in the initial kitten shots, if your kitty is going to be going outside, then this is an additional vaccination that you should discuss with your veterinary once kitty is 4 months old.
The shots that young kittens get will cover them against such diseases as:
Rhinotracheitis which is characterized by symptoms such as sneezing, fever, ocular discharge, and coughing.
Calicivirus- which affects the respiratory system, and has symptoms such as pneumonia, diarrhea and even arthritis.
Feline Distemper which is associated with diarrhea and vomiting type symptoms.
Feline Leukemia Virus, otherwise known as FeLV – this destroys the cats immune system and is responsible for many feline deaths as it leads to fatal infections.
Feline AIDS – like FeLV this destroys the immune system of a cat leaving it open to fatal infections.
Feline Infectious Peritonitis, or FIP - this incurable disease attacks the cat’s abdominal area.
Chlamydia – affecting eyes and respiratory area, this disease is both common and contagious.
Some of these vaccines will need to be given annually to ensure that your cat remains immune so check with veterinary clinic to ensure that your cat’s vaccinations are always kept up-to-date.
Date Added: Monday, 04-07-2025 08:25:12 AM
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Does My Kitty Need a Pet Carrier?
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There are ways of getting around this, but sooner or later you will probably find that you need to purchase a pet carrier so you may as well put it on your initial kitty expenditure list. That way, when you go to pick up your kitten, you’ll know that you can transport it comfortably home without the kitten being hurt or causing an accident by jumping off your lap or out of your arms and distracting the person driving you home – you could even drive yourself if your kitty’s locked up safe and sound in a carrier!
There are many different pet carriers on the market. Choose one that fits your preference but which has enough room for a fully grown cat to be able to stand up and turn around in. Also choose a pet carrier that allows air to circulate on all four sides, and if possible has a place to add a water dish. You may not immediately have a need for the water dish but if you purchase a pet carrier that has this feature, you’ll be ready should a need arise during your cat’s lifetime.
If you are buying two kittens, rather than just one, then one pet carrier between them is usually enough. As kittens they’ll be happiest traveling together, and as adult cats you’ll rarely be taking them anywhere at the same time. When taking your kitty(s) home for the first time, put a layer of newspaper on the bottom of the pet carrier to absorb any “accidents” and place a blanket or towel that they are familiar with on top of this so that they feel a little secure because they know the smell of the fabric. You should also use this set-up any other time you use the carrier throughout your cat’s life.
There’s a knack to getting your adult cat into a pet carrier that comes with practice (and patience) but kittens will usually just allow themselves to be placed inside without too much resistance.
Date Added: Monday, 04-07-2025 08:21:28 AM
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Cat Mythology: Cats as Familiars
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Cats as familiars have a long and dark history in western mythology. These cats often found their way into literature. One of the most famous was Grimalkin, the witches'
cat from Shakespeare's MacBeth. Cats as witch's companions are still a part of the popular symbology associated with the modern holiday of Halloween.
What is a familiar? In western mythology a familiar was an animal companion given by the devil to a witch in order to help her with her evil magic. These familiars
would have names just like any other pet. In the middle ages, if you were caught talking to your pet (like a lot of people do) you were considered to be consorting with the devil in speaking to w obviously your familiar. The Middle Ages were a very dark and violent period in Europe. Their alternative name "Dark Ages" should come as no surprise.
Learning was confined to clergy and nobility. The general population was therefore quite ignorant and prone to superstition.
A familiar could be any type of animal such as a toad, dog or cat. Black cats became the traditionally cited companion and hence cats became particularly reviled. In 1233 Pope Gregory IX wrote in his Papal Bull "Vox in Rama" actually denounced black cats as satanic. The Popes' proclamation began the persecution of cats all over Europe. Thousands and thousands of cats were burned alive in the attempt to drive out the evil Satan. Wild tales of these cats shape shifting into other creatures were common among the populace and justified these terrible acts in their minds. When the power of the Knights Templar was broken, some of the knights were said to have confessed to worshiping cats. As these so-called confessions were given under extreme torture, they
would seem to speak more to the attitudes of their inquisitors than to anything the Templars themselves had actually done.
Why were black cats in particular singled out? There are a couple of legends that might explain this singular revulsion. In the first legend, so the story goes, is that cats who were born at the end of blackberry season were called blackberry cats. According to this legend, the end of blackberry season coincides with the expulsion of Satan from
heaven. When he fell he landed on a blackberry bush which he defiled with his urine and spit. Thus, blackberry cats, especially black ones are associated with the devil in this tale. The second tale comes from Italy. The Italian witches, called streghe, tell a legend about Diana who is goddess of the moon and also called "Queen of the Witches". Her brother who was known in ancient times as Apollo, is renamed Lucifer (Light Bearer) in this tale. Supposedly, Diana wanted to have a son by Lucifer, so she attempted to trick him by taking the shape of a black cat.
As you can see, these stories were pretty wild, and yet the people of those dark times took them as the gospel truth. The irony of this superstitious hysteria against cats
was that by destroying the cats the Europeans nearly destroyed themselves. Cats had been used for centuries to keep down the population of vermin, especially mice and rats. When their predators were destroyed, the vermin population exploded. They ate large amounts of grain that had been meant for human consumption resulting in widespread hunger among the people. Even worse than the hunger was that the enormous numbers of rats became disease carriers. The worst of these diseases was the bubonic plague, otherwise known as the Black Death. The Plagues of the Middle Ages are terrible instance of the repercussions that can befall humans due to misplaced zeal.
Date Added: Saturday, 04-05-2025 06:23:26 AM
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